This victory marks Kenya’s second consecutive title in the Challenger Series, following their 17-12 win over Argentina in the first leg.
The Kenya Lionesses continued their impressive run in the 2025 World Rugby HSBC Challenger Series, claiming a 17-0 victory over South Africa in the second leg final at Cape Town's Athlone Stadium. This win secured their second consecutive title in the tournament.
South Africa came close to scoring early when Nadine Roos broke through the Kenyan defense, but Judith Okumu made a crucial tackle.
With less than three minutes remaining in the first half, Naomi Amuguni capitalized on a defensive error from South Africa to score Kenya’s first try, giving them a 5-0 lead. The Lionesses continued to press, forcing the South Africans onto the back foot every time they had the ball.
Despite both teams fighting hard for the next try, the first half ended with Kenya holding a slim lead. In the second half, South Africa pushed for an equalizer, but the Kenyan defense held firm.
Kenya extended their advantage to 10-0 when Sharon Auma showcased her speed and skill to score another try. Moments later, Freshia Odour sealed the win for Kenya with a try that brought the score to 15-0. The successful conversion increased their lead to 17-0.
This victory marks Kenya’s second consecutive title in the Challenger Series, following their 17-12 win over Argentina in the first leg. The Lionesses’ dominance is becoming more evident as they continue to impress on the international stage.
Looking ahead, the team will focus on the third and final leg of the series, which will be held in Krakow, Poland, from April 11 to 12. With strong chances of finishing in the top four, Kenya is aiming to qualify for the HSBC SVNS promotion/relegation playoffs in Los Angeles from May 4-5.
Kenya is now one step closer to achieving their goal of competing among the world’s best in rugby sevens, with their focus firmly set on the challengers ahead.